
Class 
BooL 



a 



B4- 



Ccpiglit]^". 



GUFUilCUT DEPOSm 



C- 



\ 



\Ba/dwm^s Biographical Booklets \\ 



THE STORY OF 

George Rogers Clark 

FOR YOUNG READERS 



^5 



BV 



KATHERINE BEEBP 



WERNER SCHOOL BOOK COMPANY 

CHICAGO NEW YORK. BUSTON 




LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap.. Copyright No 

Shelf.__ 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 



BALDWIN'S BIOGRAPHICAL BOOKLETS 



(03 



THE STORY 



z^^?- 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 



FOR YOUNG READERS 



By KATHERINE BEEBE 




WERNER SCHOOL BOOK COMPANY 
NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON 



63290 



BALDWIN'S 
BIOGRAPHICAL STORIES 

FOR YOUNG AMERICAN READERS 

EDITED BY 

JAMES BALDWIN, Ph.D. 



FOUR GREAT AMERICANS 

George Washington, Benjamin Fbanklin 
Daniel Webster, Abraham Lincoln 
By JAMES BALDWIN, Ph.D. 
Cloth, 246 pages, Illustrated, - , - - Price, 50 cents 

FOUR AMERICAN PATRIOTS 

Patrick Henry, Alexander Hamilton 
Andrew Jackson, Ulysses S. Grant 
By ALMA HOLMAN BURTON 
Cloth, 254 pages, Illustrated - - - Price, 50 cents 

FOUR AMERICAN NAVAL HEROES 

Paul Jones, Oliver H Perry 
David G. Farkagut, George Dewey 
By MABEL BORTON BEEBE 

Cloth, 254 pages. Illustrated • - - Price, 50 cents 

FOUR AMERICAN POETS 

William Cullen Bryant, Henry Wadsworth 
Longfellow, John Greenleaf Whittier 
Oliver Wendell Holmes 
By SHERWIN CODY 
Cloth, 254 pages. Portraits - - - Price, 50 cents 

FOUR FAMOUS AMERICAN WRITERS 

Washington Irving, Edgar Allan Poe 
James Russell Lowell, Bayard Taylor 
By SHERWIN CODY 
Cloth, 254 pages, Portraits - - - Price, 50 cents 

FOUR AMERICAN PIONEERS 

Daniel Boone, George Rogers Clark 
David Crockett, Kit Carson 
By FRANCES M. PERRY and KATHERINE BEEBE 
Cloth, 2S4 pages. Illustrated - - - Price, 50 cents 

HENRY CLAY, By FRANCES CRAVENS 
Booklet, Illustrated, 64 pages - - Price, 10 cents 

LEWIS AND CLARK, By NELLIE F. KINGSLEY 
Double Booklet, Illustrated -; - Price, 25 cents 

OTHER volumes! l»i PREPARATION 



Copyright, 1900, by WERNER SCHOOL BOOK COMPANY 



Ei)e ILakfsitie ^rrss 

R. R. DONNELLEY & SONS COMPANY 
CHICAGO 



oua 



TWO COPIES RECEIVED. 

Ubrary 0/ Congretii 
Office of the 

JUN 2 - 1900 






^I't^^^V/ ^fs^ 



CHAPTER 



SECOND COPY, ^^^^ 

I. Boyhood and Youth ... ... 5 

II. "Kentucki" . . . . . o 7 

III. The Conquest of Illinois . . . « i"2 

IV. Colonel Clark and the Indians . . 21 
V. Indian Treaties ...... 27 

VI. Vincennes y ..... . -^z 

VII. Through the "Drowned Lands" . . 37 

VIII. The Capture of Fort Sackville . . 42 

IX. The Delaware Indians . . . .50 

X. Back in Kentucky ..... 52 

XI. Lochry's Defeat . . c . . . 56 

XII. Border Troubles ..... 58 

XIII. After the War ...... 60 




GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK 

THE HERO OF THE NORTHWEST 



I. — Boyhood and Youth. 

George Rogers Clark was born in Virginia. The 
state which claims George Washington, Thomas Jeffer- 
son and Patrick Henry is proud to call him her son. 
His ancestors were Scotch and English. They settled 
in Virginia at an early day, near Charlottesville, which 
is not far from Monticello, the home and burial place of 
Thomas Jefferson. 

Jefferson was so much older than Clark that they did 
not see much of each other as boys, although they lived 
so near together. After they were men they became 
good friends. 

There were few schools in Virginia when George 
Clark was a boy, and he was not able to get much of 
an education. One of his schoolmates was James 
Madison, who afterwards became president of the United 
States. George's favorite studies were mathematics and 
surveying. 

When Clark was nineteen years old he joined an expe- 

5 



6 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

dition that was going to the Ohio valley. He went as 
a surveyor, and intended to take up some land, and set- 
tle in the West. The party, traveling on horseback and 
in canoes, were obliged to take great care not to be dis- 
covered by the Indians. 

Clark found his land near the place where the city of 
Wheeling, West Virginia, now stands. He built a cabin, 
and lived there for some time, hunting, fishing, im- 
proving his land, and earning money by surveying. 
He wrote to his parents that he liked this rough 
pioneer life very much. In 1773 he went with a 
party of Virginians farther down the river, towards 
Kentucky. 

Two years before the Declaration of Independence was 
signed there was a short, but hard-fought, war in the 
Ohio valley. Some friendly Shawnee Indians, and the 
family of a chief named lyOgan, were killed by white 
men. This caused all the border Indians to "take 
up the hatchet." Houses were burned, cattle and 
crops destroyed, men, women, and children killed, and 
many scalps taken. The Indians were finally defeated 
in battle and forced to make peace. 

This trouble has been called "Dunmore's War," 
because it was thought that Lord Dunmore, the royal 
governor of Virginia, was at the bottom of it. It was 
believed that the white men who killed the friendly 
Indians were acting under his orders. In this war 
young George Rogers Clark took a part. 



"KENTUCKI. 



II. "Kentucki. 



In 1775 many settlers were emigrating to what is now 
the state of Kentucky. Among them were some of 
George Clark's friends. He decided to go with them, 
and do as he had done before, make his way by survey- 
ing, and take up land for a home. 

He wrote back to Virginia that Kentucky was a 
beautiful country, and-that he was sure his father would 
join him if he could only see how rich the land was. 
Several years later his father and mother made their 
home at Mulberry Hill, near the place where the city of 
Louisville now stands. 

Clark went from one part of the new country to the 
other, often leading the backwoodsmen who served as 
Indian fighters. He soon became prominent among the 
frontiersmen. He seemed to forget that he had come to 
the new country to take up land and make money by 
surveying,^ for he found so much to do for the struggling 
settlements that he had n-^ time to think of himself. 

The Indians were on the warpath most of the time, 
and there was but little powder among the settlers. 
Kentucky was so far away from Virginia that it scarcely 
seemed to be a part of it. For these reasons Clark 
determined to find out whether the mother state would 
protect her border settlements, or whether the pioneers 
would have to form a new state and take care of them- 
selves. A meeting was held in Harrodsburg in which 



8 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

the people chose George Clark and John Jones to go to 
Virginia for them. They were to find out what could 
be done for the protection of the settlements. 

Clark and Jones set out alone, traveling overland 
instead of by the river. A long and dangerous journey 
was before them. The ground was wet and muddy ; 
there were hills, mountains, and swollen streams to be 
crossed ; there were signs of hostile Indians every- 
where. 

They had not gone far before they lost one of their 
horses, and all the baggage had to be placed on the other. 
The feet of both men were often wet for days together, 
and they dared not make a fire for fear of being discovered 
by Indians. The soles of their feet became blistered, so 
much so that Clark afterwards said that he ^' traveled in 
more torment than he had ever before experienced." 

As the two men approached Cumberland they hoped 
to obtain relief, but on reaching the place they found it 
burned and deserted. Painfully they pushed on towards 
the next settlement, Martin's Fort, only to find that it, 
too, had been abandoned. 

The next settlement was sixty miles away. They 
could not travel any longer, for they now had what 
hunters call "scald feet"; there was nothing to be done 
but stay where they were till help should come. 

They decided to fortify themselves in the strongest of 
the deserted cabins, burn the others, so that Indians 
could not hide in or behind them, and cure their feet 



*'KENTUCKL" 9 

with the oil and ooze of oak bark. A few hogs had 
been left behind when the settlers of Martin's Fort had 
fled, and our adventurers caught and killed some of 
them. The door of the cabin they chose was found to 
be fastened. Clark climbed to the roof, knocked off 
part of the chimney, and dropped down inside. He 
opened the door, and both men set to work, preparing 
for defense. 

The meat was brought in ; a barrel was filled with 
water; rifles and pistols were laid out on a table. In case 
of attack Jones was to load and Clark was to fire. Wood 
and corn were added to their stores, loopholes cut in the 
walls, and doors and windows barred. 

This work occupied them till evening. As soon as 
the wind changed they meant to burn the other build- 
ings, and were just about to do so when they heard a 
horse bell. They at once prepared themselves for 
Indians, but, to their great joy, soon discovered that the 
horse belonged to white men, who had come back to 
Martin's Fort for some things that had been hidden and 
left behind. 

These white men, when they saw smoke coming from 
the chimney of the cabin, had made ready to fight 
Indians. They were as glad as Clark and Jones were to 
meet white men instead of red. 

With these friendly helpers the travelers crossed the 
mountains, but found they were too late to meet the 
Virginia Assembly that spring. They made their plans 



lO GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

to wait for the autumn meeting ; for only the Assembly 
had the power to grant the Kentuckians the help and 
protection they needed. 

Jones joined the troops then being raised to fight the 
Cherokee Indians. Clark went to Williamsburg to see 
what he could do about getting some powder. On this 
errand he went to see Governor Patrick Henry, who was 
in favor of doing all that was possible to assist the fron- 
tiersmen. Clark, nevertheless, had a great deal of trouble 
getting the powder they so sorely needed. He wrote to 
those in authority that if the Kentucky 
country belonged to Virginia it was to 
her interest to protect it ; that if it was 
not worth protecting, it was not worth 
claiming ; that if Virginia did not 
send relief the settlers must seek help 
elsewhere, or form an independent 

PATRICK HENRY. StatC. . 

After much anxiety and long delay 
Clark received an order for five hundred pounds of 
powder. He at once wrote to Kentucky for men to 
take it down the Ohio River. This letter was lost, 
as letters often were in those days, for the messenger 
was either killed or captured by the Indians. 

In the autumn, when the Assembly met, Clark and 
Jones presented the claims of the Kentucky settlements. 
After considerable difficulty and disappointment they 
had the satisfaction of knowing that their chosen home 




**KENTUCKI. " II 

was in the " County of Kentucki," and under the pro- 
tection of Virginia. 

Hearing nothing from home, they decided that they 
must take the powder down the river thepiselves. It 
was late in the fall before they were able to start; but, 
late or not, they felt that it ought to reach Kentucky 
as soon as possible, for they knew that the Indians 
would be again on the warpath as soon as winter was 
over. 

With seven men they set out on their journey down 
the Ohio. They were soon discovered aud pursued by 
their savage foes, and were finally obliged to hide the 
powder in four or five places along the river bank. 
They ran the boat some miles farther down stream, set 
it adrift, and then started across the country towards 
Harrodsburg, where Clark intended to get a larger force 
of men to go back for the powder. On the way he met 
four explorers, who told him that his friend John Todd, 
with a number of men, was in the vicinity. This 
decided Clark to push on to Harrodsburg with two men, 
leaving Jones and the others to await the party he ex- 
pected to send. 

Soon after Clark had gone Todd, with ten men, met 
Jones and his little band. The two parties concluded 
not to wait for the Harrodsburg men, but to go after the 
powder themselves. They had not gone far before they 
met a large body of Indians. A short and fierce battle 
was fought, which went hard with the white men. 



12 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

Jones and several others were killed, and the rest were 
taken prisoners; but these unfortunate men did not let 
the Indians know where the powder was hidden. A 
little later the men sent by Clark brought it safely to the 
settlements. 



III. — The Conquest of Illinois. 

About this time, a large number of Indians appeared 
suddenly near Harrodsburg. They shot at some boys 
who were playing in the woods, and captured one of 
them. The others made their escape and gave the 
alarm. 

A party of men at once set out in pursuit, but they did 
not find the Indians. This was fortunate for the settlers, 
for the savages so far outnumbered the white men that 
the latter would certainly have been defeated, and in 
those troublous times the loss of even one man was a 
serious thing. 

Part of the town had been deserted as soon as the news 
was brought in by the boys. Men, women, and children 
left their homes to take refuge in the fort. It was well 
they did so in time, for, in the early morning, the 
Indians again appeared and set fire to the empty houses. 
Again the brave pioneers set out to attack their foes, but 
they were soon obliged to retreat. 

This was the opening of another Indian war. Many 
men, women, and children were killed; prisoners were 



THE CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. I3 

taken and tortured; homes were burned, and cattle and 
crops destroyed on every side. It seemed for a time as 
if Kentucky must become again the Indian hunting 
ground which it had been before the sturdy backwoods- 
men determined to make it their home. 

Virginia's new county was indeed in a sad plight. It 
was hundreds of miles from the mother state, and over- 
run with savages. The settlers were forced to spend 
most of the time defending the forts, tending the 
wounded, and burying the dead. They could raise no 
crops, and so had to depend almost entirely on the hunt- 
ers for food. These men were so often killed or cap- 
tured by the Indians that it was only by taking the 
utmost care that they were able to do their work. They 
were obliged to set out before daylight, that they might 
not be seen by their watchful foes, and to remain away 
until dark for the same reason. 
^-^Bngland and America being at war, the British at 
Detroit were urging the Indians to attack the frontier 
settlements. Agents were sent among the tribes with 
promises and presents. Scalps of American men, 
women, and children were bought and paid for. Bitter 
indeed was the feeling in Kentucky against the English 
officers who so abused their power, and many were the 
backwoodsmen who longed for revenge. Especially 
was this true of those whose wives, children, or friends 
had been killed or captured. 

The situation grew worse as the season advanced. 



14 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

Clark began to fear that the Kentuckians would have to 
surrender entirely and be carried away to Detroit, to 
become the prisoners of the British. A ray of hope 
arrived with Captain John Bowman, who was sent from 
Virginia with a company of men. Clark nevertheless 
knew that he himself must go to war seriously if his 
country was to be saved. The people were looking to 
him for help, and he therefore decided to go to Virginia 
and tell their sad story there. 

He declared that unless something was done at once, 
Kentucky would be lost ; that if that came to pass, not 
only would there be no more supplies of food and furs 
sent from the west, but Virginia would have to send 
extra troops to guard her borders. This work Ken- 
tucky was now doing as best she could. 

\ Clark knew that the British commanders of the forts 
in Illinois and at Detroit were inciting the Indians against 
the Americans. He wished to march to these posts, and, 
by capturing them, put an end to English influence 
among the Indian tribes. He had already sent spies 
into the Illinois country, and had learned from them the 
condition of the fort at Kaskaskia, and of the French 
towns near by.\ He had been informed that the British 
were not expecting an attack, and that they were 
influencing the French people against the Americans! 
The French had always had great influence with the\ 
Indians, hence Clark hoped that if he took the Illinois 
towns he would make friends of them, and that they, in 



THE CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. I5 

their turn, would help him to put an end to the horrible 
border warfare then going on. 

After explaining all these things, Clark asked Gov- 
ernor Henry for troops, that he might carr^^ out his 
plan. The governor gave him permission to raise the 
companies he needed, and declared himself much pleased 
with Clark's idea. 

Colonel Clark soon found that he had set himself a 
hard task. It was very difficult to find men who were 
not needed at home or had not already enlisted in their 
country's service. He managed to secure a promise 
from the government that three hundred acres of land 
in the conquered territory should be given to each man 
who helped to win it. This promise, which was after- 
wards fulfilled, was of great assistance to him, and he 
finally succeeded in recruiting a number of men. 

The plan of capturing the Illinois towns was, for a 
time, kept secret. The men supposed that they were 
merely going to protect the Kentucky border. 

When Clark started down the Ohio River he had about 
one hundred and seventy-five men, instead of the five 
hundred he had hoped to have. The first stopping 
place was Corn Island, opposite the place where Ivouis- 
ville now stands, which was then called the Falls of the 
Ohio. This island no longer exists ; it was gradually 
swept away by the swift current of the river. 

At the time of Clark's landing it was about seventy 
acres in extent. Some twenty families had come with 



l6 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

him and his troops, and they decided to settle on the 
island. Clark divided the land among them, that each 
man might have his own garden, and detailed a few of 
his soldiers for their protection. 

The time had now come to reveal to the men the true 
object of the expedition. Most of them were willing 
and anxious to follow their brave leader. On the 
twenty-fourth of June, 1778, they left Corn Island for 
Kaskaskia. 

At the very moment of departure the sun was dark- 
ened by an eclipse, which must have greatly astonished 
them all. They regarded it as a good omen, however, 
and set off with cheers and rejoicings. The boats were 
rowed down the river, the rowers working in relays 
day and night, to a point about three miles below the 
mouth of the Tennessee. Near the place where Fort 
Massac, an old French outpost, had once stood, the party 
landed. 

Before the landing took place, a canoe containing a 
party of hunters was stopped. Clark was . glad to learn 
from these men that they had just come from Kaskaskia. 
They told him that the fort there was in good condition 
and well defended, but that no one thought the Ameri- 
cans would really attack it. They were sure both fort 
and town would be easily captured if taken by surprise. 
They said that if the approach of the Americans was 
discovered the French people of the town would take 
sides with the English, for the English officers had told 



THE CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. 



17 



the townsfolk such terrible stories about the American 
backwoodsmen that they were much afraid of them. 

The hunters offered to join Clark's forces, and one of 
them said he would act as guide from the river to Kas- 
kaskia. This offer was thankfully accepted; the land- 




men were or- 
The first part 
was through 
the rest of the 



ing was made; 
the boats were 
hidden, and the 
dered forward, 
of the march 
swampy land; 
way was over the open prairie. By looking at the map, 
you can see the course of the march from Fort Massac. 
On the third day the guide appeared to be confused, 
and said he had lost his way. This immediately aroused 
the suspicions of both Colonel Clark and his men. 
They began to fear that they were being led into a trap^ 



l8 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

and that they might be betrayed into the hands of the 
enemy. Clark said it was very strange that a man who 
knew his way perfectly three days before should now be 
in doubt of it. * He did not think it possible for any one 
to go from Kaskaskia to the river without learning the 
route well. 

The guide seemed very uncomfortable, and the 
soldiers grew more and more angry. He was finally 
told that unless he found the trail he would be shot. 
He begged to be allowed to go to a certain place a little 
distance away, from which he was sure he could find out 
where they were. Some of Clark's men were sent with 
him, and he soon proved his words true. He dis- 
covered the landmarks he had hoped to find, and was 
once more sure of his way. He had really been lost 
and bewildered, and the suspicions against him were 
unfounded. 

On the evening of July fourth the Americans reached 
Kaskaskia. They halted about three quarters of a mile 
from town, then cautiously approached a house on the 
river bank. The French family living in it were taken 
prisoners, and boats were secured in which the troops 
crossed to the other side after dark. Colonel Clark, 
with part of his men, went to the fort; the rest were 
sent to take possession of the town. 

There was a dance at the fort that night, at which 
most of the British officers and many of the towns- 
people were present. The American soldiers placed 



THE CONQUEST OF ILLINOIS. I9 

themselves on guard in silence, and in the middle of the 
gayety Clark stepped just inside the door. He stood 
there, in his rough backwoodsman's dress, surveying 
the scene with a grim smile. No one noticed the 
stranger at the door, until an Indian, who was sitting 
on the floor, chanced to look that way. He eyed Clark 
closely for a moment, and then sprang to his feet with 
a yell. Immediately there was great confusion and 
alarm. 

"There is no danger," said the American quietly. 
"Go on with your fun. Only remember that you are 
now dancing under the flag of Virginia, and not that of 
England." 

In a very short time the town was in the possession 
of the Americans. The commander of the fort, Philip 
Rocheblave, was captured in his bed. 

Clark learned that many of the townspeople were 
inclined to be friendly to the Americans, but that others 
had been told such terrible stories of their fierceness and 
cruelty that they were greatly frightened to find them- 
selves in their power. He decided to appear very severe 
at first, in order to surprise the people more completely 
by his kindness later on. 

When the priest and several of the leading French 
citizens came to talk to Colonel Clark and his officers 
they must have thought them little better than savages. 
Much of their clothing had been left with the boats, and 
what they had on had been badly torn by bushes and 



20 GEORGE ROGERS CL4RK. 

briars on the march. Their faces were dirty, their hair 
was unkempt, and they were tired and worn for want of 
food and rest. 

Bach party looked at the other in silence for a time; 
then one of the Frenchmen spoke. He said he knew 
that the townspeople must be carried away from their 
homes as prisoners, and he begged that they might be 
allowed to meet in the church to take leave of each 
other. 

'^You may do as you please about going to the 
church," said Colonel Clark sternly, "but let no one 
dare attempt to escape from the town." 

The frightened citizens flocked to the church, and 
men were again sent to the American commander. They 
humbly thanked him for permitting them to meet 
together; they begged that when the prisoners were 
taken away the families might not be separated; they 
asked that the women and children be allowed to keep 
some food and clothing. 

"Do you think that you are dealing with Indians?" 
asked Colonel Clark abruptly. "Do you think Amer- 
icans war against women and children ? We came to 
prevent suffering, not to cause it !" 

He then went on to explain that because the English 
commander was inciting the Indians to murder their 
wives, children, and friends, the Americans had marched 
against Kaskaskia; that all they wanted was to put an 
end to Indian wars; that the king of France was now 



COLONEL CLARK AND THE INDIANS. 21 

the friend of Ihe colonies; that their church should not 
be interfered with; that no property should be destroyed 
and no prisoners taken. He told the story of the 
trouble between England and America which had led to 
the war of the Revolution, and proved to them that what 
the English had been telling them of the Americans 
was untrue. 

"You may go back to your homes in peace and 
safety," said he. 

Great was the joy of the Kaskaskians on hearing 
these words. They declared that they had been misled 
and deceived; that they were glad to be friends with the 
Americans, and that they would loyally serve them. 

When affairs at Kaskaskia were well settled, Colonel 
Clark sent Captain Bowman, with a party of men, to the 
neighboring town of Cahokia. This place, like Kas- 
kaskia, was surprised and taken. The same story that 
was made known in one town was told in the other, and 
with the same result — the French were glad to become 
the friends and allies of the Americans. The town of 
Prairie du Rocher and the settlement at Fort Chartres 
were also taken with little trouble to the Americans. 



IV. — Colonel Clark and the Indians. 
When the Indians in and about Kaskaskia realized 
that the Americans were in control they quickly disap- 
peared. Colonel Clark was very anxious to gain an 



22 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 



influence over these Indians, and, with that end in view, 
managed to get a report spread among them that more 
troops were expected to join those already in Illinois. 

He was wise enough 
to send no direct mes- 
sage to the savages. 
He wished them to 
think that he did not 
care where they were or 
what they did. 

The town of Vin- 
cennes, on the Wabash 
River, was a larger and 
niore important post 
than Kaskaskia. It was 
necessary to obtain pos- 
session of it, in order to 
complete the conquest 
of the Illinois country. 
Among the leading cit- 
izens of Kaskaskia was 
Father Gibault, the 
Catholic priest, who 
had .become the firm 
friend of Colonel Clark 
and the American 
cause. He assured Clark that the French of Vincennes 
would do as the people of Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Prairie 




THE FRENCH SETTLEMENTS ON THE 
MISSISSIPPI. 



COLONEL CLARK AND THE INDIANS. 23 

du Rocher, and Fort Chartres had done, if they only 
knew the true state of affairs. 

He oflfered to go and tell them the real reason for the 
quarrel between England and America, for he was sure 
they had been as much deceived and misled as the Kas- 
kasians had been. He said that he would make known 
the fact that the French king was now the friend of 
the Americans, and that he would tell how Colonel Clark 
treated those whom he conquered. He believed that 
when once these facts were known the flag of Virginia 
would be raised over Vincennes. 

This proved to be the case. Father Gibault, accom- 
panied by Captain Helm and a small party of men, 
successfully performed his mission. The people of Vin- 
cennes declared themselves the friends of the Americans. 
Fort Sackville at that place was surrendered, and Cap- 
tain Helm took command of it with one American sol- 
flier and some Frenchmen as a garrison. 
I The Indians around Vincennes were greatly surprised 
when the English flag was hauled down and Virginia's 
colors hoisted in its place. The French told the Indians 
that their Father, the king of France, had joined forces 
with the '* Long Knives," as the Americans were called 
by their savage foes, and advised them to make peace, 
lest they be destroyed. This the Indians heard on 
every side, and it made a deep impression on them. 

One of the most powerful chiefs was called Tobacco's 
Son, and also The-Grand-Door-to-the-Wabash. Clark 



24 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

wished to make friends with this chief, and sent him 
his compliments by Father Gibault. He also sent him 
a speech and a belt by Captain Helm. The chief had 
said in reply that now, since he understood the situation, 
he would not only declare friendship with the Long 
Knives himself, but he would advise the other Wabash 
Indians to make peace at once. This was exactly what 
Clark wanted. 

As the news of these events spread, many Indians 
came to Cahokia to make treaties of peace. The 
English at Detroit became greatly alarmed, and kept 
their agents busy among the Indian villages, making- 
presents and speeches. The French, however, worked 
among the tribes in the interest of their new friends. 

Colonel Clark had long been of the opinion that it 
was a mistake to make friends with treacherous savages 
by giving them presents. He felt that such a course 
made the Indians think the white men afraid of them. 
He made up his mind not to give those with whom he 
treated the least reason for believing that he feared 
them. Several chiefs asked him for a council, to which 
he consented. Indian councils were always conducted 
with much ceremony, and took a great deal of time. 
Clark made a point of being even more ceremonious 
than the Indians themselves, and, on this occasion, let 
one of them make the opening speech. 

The chief laid the blame of all the border warfare on 
the English, whose "bad birds," as he called the agents. 



COLONEL CLARK AND THE INDIANS. 25 

had been flying among the tribes. At the end of the 
speech many Indians threw down the flags and war belts 
sent them by the British, and stamped on them. 

**I will think over what you have said," said Colonel 
Clark, '' and tell you to-morrow whether the Long 
Knives will forgive you or destroy you." 

The next day the chief of •the Long Knives made his 
speech. '' Men and warriors," said he sternly, ^Misten 
to my words. I am a warrior, not a counselor. I hold 
war in my right hand and peace in my left. I am sent 
by the Council of the Long Knives to take possession 
of all the towns owned by the English, and to watch 
the red men. I will make bloody the paths of those 
who stop the way to the river. I will open such paths 
for those who are friends, that women and children may 
walk in them." 

At the close of the speech he offered a peace belt and 
a war belt. 

"Take whichever you please," said he. "If you 
choose the war belt you may go back in safety to your 
English friends, and make ready to fight. If you 
choose the peace belt you shall be the friends of the 
Long Knives and of the French. If you do not keep 
faith, when once you give your word, you shall be 
destroyed. ' ' 

The Indians were then dismissed to think over what 
the white chief had said. 

They came together again on the next day. Colonel 



26 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

Clark seated himself at a table with great dignity, his 
officers and the leading citizens of the town standing 
near by. The Indians solemnly kindled a fire. Three 
chiefs approached Colonel Clark, one carrying a peace 
belt, one a peace pipe, and the other fire with which 
to light it. Here Colonel Clark spoke. 

" You ought to be thankful to the Great Spirit who 
has opened your eyes and hearts to the truth ! " said he. 

" The Ivong Knives do not speak like any other 
people," answered a chief. " We believe you speak the 
truth, and that the English have deceived us. Some of 
our old men told us this long ago. We will throw the 
tomahawk into the river. We will also send news to 
our friends of the good talk we have heard." 

The pipe of peace was then smoked by red men 
and white, and a general handshaking followed. 

Many councils similar to this one were held in 
Cahokia. Colonel Clark was occupied for weeks mak- 
ing and listening to speeches. . One by one the tribes 
made peace until all in the neighborhood of the Illinois 
towns might fairly be counted friendly. 



V. — Indian Treaties. 

Colonel Clark wished to secure peace with as many 
tribes as possible, not only that the Indian war might 
be brought to an end, but also because he wished to 




GEORGK ROGERS CI.ARK IN COUNCII. WITH THE INDIANS. 
From the painting in the Illinois State House. 



27 



28 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

keep the new country he had won from being re-taken 
by the English. He had such a small force, and the 
Indians were so numerous, that he knew he would be in 
great danger if they did not come over to the American 
side. There were often hundreds of savages gathered 
together in Cahokia, and Colonel Clark confessed, in a 
letter, that he was frequently uneasy lest they should 
suddenly decide to unite against the conquerors of 
Illinois. The Indians, however, were never allowed to 
discover the least sign of anxiety. Colonel Clark con- 
tinued to act as though he cared little whether they 
chose peace or war, but he was nevertheless doing 
everything in his power to bring about treaties of 
peace. 

He interested himself in a chief called Black Bird, who 
was a leader among the L^ake Michigan tribes. Black 
Bird had been in St. Louis when Clark took Kaskaskia 
and the other Illinois towns. As soon as he heard the 
news he fled, fearing that the Long Knives would at 
once take vengeance on him. On the way north he 
and his braves met a party of traders, to whom they 
told the story of Clark's conquest. The traders tried to 
persuade the Indians to go back. 

''The Long Knives will think you are afraid of 
them," they said. 

'' My family is sick," replied Black Bird; " I will go 
in the spring. I will write to the chief of the Long 
Knives at Kaskaskia." 



INDIAN TREATIES. - 29 

Black Bird did write, and Colonel Clark answered the 
letter. He was most anxious to win over this chief, 
who had great influence among the lake Indians. He 
paid one of his men two hundred dollars to visit Black 
Bird at St. Joseph. This man invited the chief to visit 
Clark at Cahokia. He accepted the invitation, and 
arrived with eight of his warriors. Seeing preparations 
for the usual Indian ceremonies, he at once sent word 
to Clark that such forms would be unnecessary between 
them, as they would transact their business like white 
rnen. When he met Colonel Clark he tried to behave 
like a very polite gentleman, and had himself introduced 
by one of the French citizens. 

"I have for some time wanted a council with some 
chief of the Long Knives," said he. '' I have grown 
doubtful of the English, and there are some matters 
which I should like to have explained." 

He then asked such intelligent questions that Clark 
had to tell him the whole history of the American 
colonies, from the time of Columbus down to that day. 

"The English are afraid of the Long Knives," said 
Black Bird. " I should not blame you if you destroyed 
all the Indians who are unfriendly. I will be a friend 
to you. I will make my people your friends as soon as 
my young men come back from the warpaths they now 
tread. I will make the other lake tribes your friends 
also." 

" I am glad to hear this, ' ' answered Colonel Clark. *' I 



30 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

will write the great chiefs of the Long Knives that Black 
Bird has become their friend." 

Black Bird kept his word. He not only became the 
friend of the Americans, but used his influence among 
the lake tribes for their cause, as he had said he would. 

Clark's next work was with a warrior named Big 
Gate. This chief, when a boy, had been with the great 
Pontiac at the siege of Detroit. The Indian boy had 
shot a white man who was standing at the gate of the 
fort. From that time he had borne the name of Big Gate. 

He heard the news from Illinois and came, with sev- 
eral followers, to see Colonel Clark. He had the 
audacity to come in full war dress, wearing about his 
neck the bloody belt he had received from the English. 
For Several days he attended the councils which Clark 
was then holding with various chiefs and their tribes. 
He always sat in front, but said nothing. Clark had 
found out all about him, but, for a time, paid him no 
attention. He finally told him, however, that he knew 
who he was, but that, as public business came before 
private. Big Gate must excuse him if he did not speak 
with him till later. 

"When white warriors talk with their enemies," 
said Colonel Clark, "each treats the other with the 
greatest respect. Each honors the other according to 
his exploits. I hope that you will remain with us a few 
days, and that you will dine with me and my officers 
this evening." 



INDIAN TREATIES. 3I 

This polite speech made Big Gate very nervous. He 
tried to refuse the invitation, but Clark would not take 
no for an answer. He showed the discomfited chief so 
much honor, and treated him with such great ceremony, 
that he at last became very much excited. He ran to 
the middle of the room and took off his war belt. He 
threw this, and an English flag which he carried, to 
the floor. He cast off his other garments one by 
one, until he had almost nothing on. Then he made a 
speech. 

" I am a warrior, " he declared. "I have delighted 
in war from my youth. The English have lied to me. 
I thought the Long Knives in the wrong. I have 
fought against them three times, and was ready to go 
on the warpath again. I thought I would come to see 
what kind of people they are. I know now that 
they are in the right. I will no longer be on the 
wrong side." 

Big Gate then struck himself violently on the chest, 
saying that he was now one of the Eong Knives. He 
began to shake hands all around, in a way that made 
great fun for the American officers. The soldiers threw 
his old clothes away, and one of the officers gave him a 
fine new suit. This delighted him greatly. 

That evening he dined with Colonel Clark and his 
officers in great state. After the dinner he had a long 
talk with the American commander, in which he gave 
his new friend the news from Detroit. In his zeal for 



32 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

the American cause he offered to go there at once and 
get either a scalp or a prisoner. He meant in this way 
to show his good will toward his white brothers. 

" I do not want the Indians to fight for me," said 
Colonel Clark. "I wish them only to look on. The 
lyong Knives do their own fighting." 

Big Gate went away soon after this, and as he left 
town some of the officers saluted him with pistol shots. 
This pleased him very much, and he departed much 
impressed by the power and the politeness of the lyong 
Knives. He soon had an opportunity to show his 
friendship for them. On his way home he fell in with 
a party of traders. Tliinking to please the Indians, 
these men told them that they were English. To their 
astonishment Big Gate said : 

" I am now a captain of the Long Knives. I shall 
take you back to Cahokia as my prisoners." 

' ' Now that we know you to be friends, ' ' said one of 
the traders, "we will tell you the truth. We are run- 
ning away from the English to join the Long Knives." 

''I do not believe you," answered the chief "I 
shall keep you prisoners." 

The unfortunate traders were bound, and forced to go 
with the Indians. A party of Americans, however, soon 
came by on their way to Cahokia. These men took 
charge of the prisoners, promising to deliver them safely 
into Clark's hands. This they did, but we are not told 
whether they proved to be friends or foes. 



VINCENNES. 33 

Colonel Clark had now concluded peace with most of 
the tribes within reach. Many came from long dis- 
tances to declare their friendship. Indian promises, 
however, were easily broken, and Clark was still 
anxious and troubled. 



VI . — ViNCENNES. 



As winter approached Colonel Clark became even 
more disturbed than he had been during the summer 
and early autumn. No news had come from Virginia, 
and this made him less and less hopeful of reinforcement. 
He had been receiving a letter from Vincennes every 
fortnight, and now even this failed to arrive. In great 
anxiety he sent out scouts. They did not return. For 
a time he waited in suspense; then he set out from 
Kaskaskia for Cahokia, that he might counsel with 
Captain Bowman. 

On the way footmarks of seven or eight men were dis- 
covered, but Clark thought little of the circumstance. 
He went on to Prairie du Rocher, twelve miles from 
Kaskaskia, where he expected to remain over night. 
There he found a dance in progress, and both he and his 
men joined in the festivity. In the midst of it a mes- 
senger arrived with news for Colonel Clark. 

'' Bight hundred white men and Indians are within a 
few miles of Kaskaskia ! " he declared. " They intend 
to attack the fort to-night ! " 



34 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 



The scene of gayety was at once changed to one of 
the wildest excitement and alarm. The French well 
knew that if Kaskaskia was taken, Prairie dii Rocher and 
Cahokia would also fall into the hands of the enemy. 
They feared that, in that case, they would be severely 
punished for having gone over to the American side. 

Some of Clark's friends urged him to seek safety 
across the Mississippi among the Spaniards. He 
laughed at the very thought, and began to prepare to go 
back to Kaskaskia. He ordered his men to dress like 
hunters, that they might mingle unrecognized with 
the English and Indians, who would probably be 
attacking the fort when they arrived. He hoped that 
he and his men, so disguised, might find some way to 
get into the fort. He prepared a message for Captain 
Bowman which instructed him to get together all the 
men he could and come at once from Cahokia to 
Kaskaskia. 

"Take the best horse in town !" said Colonel Clark 
to the man chosen to carry this message. " Ride until 
it can go no further, then make the rest of the way on 
foot!" 

He and his men set out in hot haste for the town they 
had so lately left. On reaching it they found that no 
enemy had yet appeared. The fort had been care- 
fully prepared for an attack, but Clark decided that 
more provisions were necessary. The French citizens 
were afraid to supply him, fearing punishment if the 



VINCENNES. 



35 



English, after taking the town, should learn that they 
had helped provision the fort. There was no time for 
the discussion of this matter. Clark acted with a 
soldier's promptness. He sent out word that he was 
going to destroy all provisions and stores in the town, to 
keep them from falling into the enemy's hands. In 
proof of his words he set fire to a barn full of grain, 
which was near the fort. The citizens then made haste 
to bring in all the supplies that were wanted. 

Clark did not venture to ask them to fight with him 
against the English, for he was sure they would be 
afraid to do so. He had to rely on his own men, and 
those of Captain Bowman, who arrived the next day. 

The whole alarm, however, proved to be a false one. 
It was found that the army of eight hundred English 
and Indians was only a small party sent out to capture 
Colonel Clark, and that they had gone away. The 
leaders of the party had given some negroes, who were 
working on the river bank, the message which reached 
Clark at Prairie du Rocher. They knew that he would 
at once prepare for defense, and that they, in the mean- 
time, could get safely away. 

Soon after this another startling message was brought 
to Kaskaskia. A man by the name of Vigo, just arrived 
from Vincennes, told Clark that General Hamilton of 
Detroit, with a party of regulars, volunteers, and 
Indians to the number of several hundred, had captured 
Vincennes; that he had sent some of his soldiers to 



36 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

patrol the Ohio River, disbanded others, and settled 
down in Fort Sackville for the winter. It was Hamil- 
ton's intention to drive Clark out of Illinois in the 
spring, and then to fall on the Kentucky settlements. 

''If I don't take Hamilton, he will take me!" said 
Colonel Clark, who, in spite of his usual brave cheerful- 
ness, knew that his situation was desperate. 

' ' We must attack at once, ' ' .said he. " If we are suc- 
cessful both Illinois and Kentucky will be saved. If 
we fail we shall be no worse off than we are now." 

Preparations for war immediately began. The whole 
Illinois country was aroused; every one gave what help 
he could; volunteers were much praised and encouraged. 
A large Mississippi River boat was purchased, loaded 
with stores and cannon, and manned by forty-five 
soldiers under Captain John Rogers. The Willhig, as 
she was called, was to go to a point a few miles below 
Vincennes and wait there for the land forces under 
Colonel Clark. On the fourth of February, she set off 
on her voyage down the river. 

In the meantime a company of volunteers arrived 
from Cahokia, and another had been formed in Kas- 
kaskia. By the fifth all was in readiness; good Father 
Gibault, ever the friend of the Americans, addressed 
the troops and gave them his blessing. There were 
upwards of a hundred and seventy men in the little 
army which set out from Kaskaskia followed by the 
prayers and well-wishes of those who remained behind. 



THROUGH THE "DROWNED LANDS. 37 



VII. — Through the "Drowned Lands." 

Through, rain, mud, and pools of standing water 
George Rogers Clark's gallant followers started to trav- 
erse what is now the state of Illinois.^ The first stream 
was crossed by means of trees felled for the purpose. 
Beyond this river the road stretched away over a partly 
submerged plain. Clark was anxious to keep up the 
spirits and courage of his men, and, with that end in 
view, planned that the evenings should be times of 
feasting and merry-making. Each day one company 
was supplied with horses, and given permission to hunt 
along the line of march. The men at night prepared 
the game they were able to secure, and invited their 
comrades to share it with them. Many buffaloes, some 
deer, and water- fowl, in this way supplemented the pro- 
visions carried by the packhorses. 

This diversion helped the men along their toilsome 
way until they reached the Little Wabash River. Clark 
acted as if he were enjoying himself, and indeed he 
was filled with satisfaction as he realized that the 
farther they advanced the more impossible it became to 
retreat. Between the Little Wabash and the next river 
all the country was under water. Instead of two dis- 
tinct streams, a large body of water, five miles in width, 
was to be crossed. Although much troubled by this 

^For the route across Illinois, see maprp. 17. 



38 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

difficulty, Clark laughed at it among his men, and at 
once set them to work building a canoe. As soon as it 
was completed a number of soldiers were sent in it to find 
a camping place on the farther side. They found a bit 
of ground, about half an acre in extent, toward which 
the army proceeded to move. The channel of the first 
river was about thirty yards wide and very deep. By 
means of the canoe a scaffold was built on the farther 
bank, to which the baggage was ferried. The horses 
swam across and were reloaded, while the men were 
brought over in the boat. 

They marched through the water which covered the 
land between the two rivers, being sometimes submerged 
to their armpits. The few who were weak or ailing 
were put into the canoe. The second river was crossed 
as the first had been, and the piece of rising ground 
reached on which they were to encamp. In spite of 
these hardships the soldiers were in great spirits, and 
indulged in much laughing and joking at one another's 
expense. 

During the day a boy, whom Clark afterwards called 
"a little antic drummer," made great fun for the others 
by floating on his drum. The men were sure now that 
nothing could stop them. They felt ready for any 
hardship or difficulty which might present itself and 
talked together of marching on to Detroit as soon as 
they had taken Vincennes. 

All this gave their leader great satisfaction, though 



THROUGH THE "DROWNED LANDS. 



39 



he was far from sharing their confidence of easy victory. 
On and on he led his little band, through rain, mud, 
and water. Hunting was no longer possible, and pro- 
visions began to run short. Many streams and creeks 
had to be crossed, some of them very deep, which of 
course meant much hard work for the soldiers. On and 
on they marched, the country becoming worse as they 
approached the Wabash. 

During a halt Captain Kennedy and three men were 
sent out in the canoe with orders to search for and cap- 
ture boats. This was on the seventeenth of February. 
All day the army waded through water, and it was 
eight o'clock at night before a spot was found on which 
a camp could be made. The place at last selected was 
far from dry, as it was a piece of ground " from which 
the water was falling." Here the men spent a miser- 
able night, cold, wet, and hungry. In the morning 
Kennedy returned, having met with no success in his 
quest for boats. 

The army was now near enough to Vincennes to hear 
the sunrise gun from the fort. By two o'clock that 
afternoon they found themselves on the bank of the 
Wabash River, but unable to cross. Rafts were built 
and men again sent out to seek for boats. They spent 
a day and a night in the water, finding neither boats 
nor dry land. 

The situation was now desperate, as the men were 
almost starving. They had had nothing to eat for two 



40 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

days, and in consequence became much cast down and 
discouraged. Some of the volunteers even began to 
talk of going back. Clark laughed at them, and told 
them to go out and try to find a deer. They obeyed .his 
order, and succeeded in killing one, to the great delight 
of their hungry comrades. Clark set other men to 
making canoes. I^ater a boat containing five French- 
men was captured as it came down the river. These 
men told Clark that the British in Vincennes as yet 
knew nothing of his approach. 

Early on the twenty-first the work of ferrying the 
men across to a little hill was begun. Beyond this hill 
was another stretch of flooded prairie. Once there, 
there was nothing to do but go on; and on they went, 
sometimes in water up to their necks. They had hoped 
to reach Vincennes that night, but found it impossible, 
being obliged to halt on the first available piece of 
rising ground. They had traveled through the water, 
and in the rain, without food, all day, but on the morn- 
ing of the twenty-second again plunged into the flood 
on the forward march. They advanced only three 
miles during the whole day. Once more they encamped, 
and once more marched on through the " drowned 
lands." At one o'clock, on the twenty-third, they found 
themselves in sight of Vincennes. 

At one stage of their terrible journey, the water 
became deeper and deeper as they went on. Clark 
passed back word that it was growing shallower, and 



THROUGH THE "DROWNED LANDS." 41 

the men pressed forward. When almost in despair him- 
self it really became less deep, and he sent back a call 
that woods were just ahead. This encouraged the men 
to fresh exertions, as they hoped to find solid ground 
under their feet when once among the trees. Here also 
the ground was under water, but progress became 
easier, as they could help themselves along by trees, 
logs, and bushes. 

At one place, after a long struggle through water 
deeper than usual, the men were so exhausted on reach- 
ing the rising ground that many of them fell at the 
water's edge, and had to be dragged to places of safety. 
Great fires were built, but some soldiers could only be 
revived by being walked briskly up and down between 
two stronger ones. It was here that a canoe, full of 
corn, tallow, and buffalo meat, in charge of some squaws, 
was captured. From these supplies great kettles of 
soup were made for the famished men. 

Clark at one time felt obliged to use another and a 
sterner method of urging his men forward than any of 
those that have been mentioned. Captain Bowman, 
with twenty-five picked men, was ordered to keep in the 
rear and shoot any man who should attempt to desert. 
When the soldiers heard this order given they cheered 
their commander, and said among themselves that he 
was doing right. 

In spite of all these hardships, as the army paused on 
the elevation from which they could see Fort Sackville, 



42 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

their courage revived, so that they were quite ready to 
march on that night and capture the town they had 
toiled so hard to reach. 



VIII. — The Capture of Fort Sackville. 

The country between the hill, where the army had 
halted, and the town of Vincennes, was rolling prairie. 
The lowest ground was covered with pools of water, 
which were alive with ducks. Several hunters on 
horseback could be seen, and Colonel Clark sent a party 
of his young volunteers in pursuit of them. One was 
captured and brought before the American commander, 
who questioned him closely. The prisoner said that the 
English had on that day completed the repairs on the 
fort, and that there were many Indians in town. He 
thought that counting both white men and red there 
were upwards of six hundred men in Vincennes. 

Clark had hoped to add The IVi/lin^-^ s crew of fifty 
to his own one hundred and seventy men, but as yet 
nothing had been heard of her. He was much encour- 
aged by the fact that the French citizens wished the 
Americans well. He was also glad to learn that the 
Indian chief. Tobacco's Son, had, only a few days 
before, declared himself the friend of the Ivong Knives, 
and this too in council with the British. 

Clark knew that the presence of his army must soon 



THE CAPTURE OF FORT SACKVILLE. 



43 



be discovered, and so he sent a letter to the townspeople, 
telling them that he meant to take the fort that night; 
that all who were friends of the English must join them 
in the fort, or take their chances outside; that all who 
favored the Americans must prove it by keeping indoors. 
This letter was so worded as to lead the people to believe 






'A A* , 



•^^tl-w- -vr^^^ 




FORT SACKVIIvlyE. 



that the army was from Kentucky. Messages were sent 
to certain citizens in the names of well-known Ken- 
tucky men. The soldiers were instructed to talk as if 
they numbered at least a thousand. 

As the bearer of the letter entered Vincennes, Clark 
and his officers watched him through their field glasses. 
Although there was soon a great stir in the town, the 



44 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

fort remained quiet. Clark concluded that the English 
knew of his approach and were prepared for defense. 
This, however, was not the case. They were celebrat- 
ing the completion of the repairs, with feasting and 
games, and were ignorant of the presence of an enemy. 

Colonel Clark spoke to his men of the great impor- 
tance of obeying orders implicitly. The men responded 
with cheers, and made ready to follow their brave com- 
mander wherever he should lead them. As the little 
army moved slowly forward it marched, countermarched, 
and displayed banners in such a way as to make it appear 
from a distance that many hundred men were advancing. 
Keeping under the hillocks, Clark delayed bringing his 
men close to the town until after dark. 

On arriving, lyieutenant Bailey was ordered to take 
fourteen men and open fire on the fort, while the rest 
took possession of the town. When the Americans 
began to fire, the British thought nothing of it, suppos- 
ing that some of the Indians were amusing themselves. 
When one of their men was shot through a loophole 
they awoke to the fact that a more formidable enemy 
was at their gates. Games, pipes, and cards were tossed 
aside, the drums beat the alarm, and the soldiers made 
ready to defend the fort. The officers had heard that a 
party of men was approaching Vincennes, and Captain 
Lamothe had been sent out to reconnoiter, but they had 
no idea that it was George Rogers Clark and his army. 

The battle soon began in earnest, all of Clark's men, 



THE CAPTURE OF FORT SACKVILLE. 45 

except a reserve of fift}^, taking part. Breastworks were 
built near the fort, behind which the soldiers so con- 
cealed themselves that the British could form no idea 
of their numbers. At the corners of Fort Sackville 
were blockhouses, in each of which was a cannon, which 
did little harm to Clark's men, but damaged some of 
the houses near by. These guns were quickly rendered 
useless by the excellent marksmanship of the backwoods 
soldiers. No sooner were the openings made for the 
cannon, than such a volley of bullets poured in that 
the British could not stand to their guns. Seven or 
eight gunners were shot down at their posts. When 
the openings were closed the Americans showered 
taunts and abuse on their enemies, with the purpose of 
inducing them to fire again. In this they were often 
successful, but after a time the use of the cannon had to 
be discontinued. 

The American breastworks were within thirty yards 
of the fort. Had the English been able to use their 
cannon these must have been demolished, and many 
soldiers killed. Keeping well under cover, according 
to Clark's orders, the riflemen not only silenced the can- 
non, but shot into the loopholes of the fort the moment 
a shadow darkened one of them. Clark kept his men 
firing and shouting at such a rate that the English 
thought his force a great deal larger than it was. He 
ordered a detachment to begin work on a mine, with a 
view to blowing up the fort. He felt that he had no 



46 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

time to lose, for should the Indians decide to unite with 
the British he knew he would be overpowered. 

Captain lyamothe, the British officer who had been 
sent out on the scouting expedition, was now very 
anxious to join his comrades inside the fort. For some 
time he hovered about, seeking a chance to enter, but 
finding none. When Clark discovered this, he concluded 
to let him get in, for fear he might stir up the Indians 
against him. He withdrew his men to some little dis- 
tance, ordering them not to fire on Lamothe, should he 
attempt to get in. As he had foreseen, the British officer 
at once made a dash for his friends. He and his men 
were eagerly assisted by those within the fort, and all 
were safely admitted, amid such taunts and jeers from 
the Americans as must have told them that they had 
been purposely allowed to enter. This made the English 
surer than ever that Clark had a large force, for as 
soon as these men were safely inside, the Americans 
again opened fire. 

It was not long before Hamilton sent word to Clark that 
he wished a three-days' truce, and asked the American 
commander to meet him at the gate of the fort. Clark 
replied that he would agree to nothing but surrender, 
although he was willing to meet General Hamilton, 
with Captain Helm, in the church. This was arranged, 
and the two commanders stood face to face. Captain 
Helm, the American prisoner. Major Hay, an English 
officer, and Captain Bowman were also present. 



THE CAPTURE OF FORT SACKVILLE. 47 

Hamilton asked that his troops be permitted to go to 
Pensacola in case of surrender. Clark answered that 
this could not be allowed; that the British troops had 
fought bravely and would not be worse treated in con- 
sequence; that General Hamilton must know, that, as 
the fort would surely be taken, any further fighting 
would be murder; that the American soldiers were very 
eager to storm the fort and could hardly be restrained; 
that if they once got in, even he, himself, would not 
be able to save a single man. 

This was far from being satisfactory to General 
Hamilton, and the two commanders were about to part 
without coming to any agreement, when Clark said, 

"Firing will not begin. Your Excellency, until after 
the drums give the alarm." 

"Why do you refuse all terms but unconditional sur- 
render?" asked Hamilton. 

"Because," said Clark frankly, "there are among 
your officers some of those who set the Indians to mur- 
dering our friends and relations on the Kentucky border. 
I wish to put those men to death for the wrong they 
have done. They are Indian partisans." 

" Pray, sir, " broke in Major Hay, "who is it that 
you call an Indian partisan? " 

"Sir," replied Colonel Clark, "I take Major Hay to 
be one of the principals." 

At this Hay turned deadly pale, and trembled so that 
Clark knew he had judged rightly; Hamilton seemed 



48 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

greatly disturbed. Once more terms of surrender were 
discussed, and Hamilton felt forced to give way. An 
official paper was made out and signed as follows: 

1. L/ieutenant-Governor Hamilton engages to deliver 
up to Colonel Clark Fort Sackville, as it is at present, 
with all stores, etc. 

2. The garrison are to deliver themselves as prisoners 
of war and march out, with arms, accoutrements, etc. 

3. The garrison to be delivered up at ten o'clock 
to-morrow. 

4. Three days to be allowed the garrison to settle 
their accounts with the inhabitants and traders of the 
place. 

5. The officers of the garrison to be allowed their 
necessary baggage, etc. 

Signed at Fort Vincent (Vincennes), 24th February, 

1779. 
Agreed for the following reasons: The remoteness 
from succor, the state and quantity of provisions, etc., 
unanimity of officers and men in its expediency, the 
honorable terms allowed, and, lastly, the confidence in 
a generous enemy. 

Signed, Henry Hamilton, 
Lieutenant-Governor and Superintendent. 

While terms of surrender were being discussed, a party 
of twenty Indians, who had just returned from a raid on 
the Kentucky settlements, was seen approaching the 
town. An American captain, John Williams, and some 
of his men, went out to meet them. They uttered the 
cry of successful warriors, and Captain Williams an- 



THE CAPTURE OF FORT SACKVILLE. 49 

swered their signs. The Indians fired a salute, and 
Williams's men did the same. When the two parties 
were within a short distance of each other the chief 
stopped; Williams quickly seized him, and the Indians 
turned and ran, the white men in pursuit. A number 
of savages were killed outright, others were taken pris- 
oners, and later on killed under the very walls of the 
fort. This was done to show the other Indians how 
powerless the English were to protect them. 

When Clark saw the inside of the fort, with its plen- 
tiful stores, he was much surprised that he had won so 
easy a victory. He decided to release some of his 
prisoners, who were volunteers from Detroit, as he had 
more on his hands than he could well care for. He 
told these young men that he knew they had been led 
away by their love of adventure; that instead of being 
sent as prisoners to Virginia they could go back to 
Detroit and tell their friends what kind of conquerors 
the Americans were. The young volunteers were only 
too glad to do this, and afterwards made many friends 
for the American cause among the citizens of Detroit. 

Word came that boats loaded v/ith stores for Fort 
Sackville were on their way from Detroit, and Captain 
Helm was sent out to intercept them. This he was for- 
tunately able to do, and a valuable prize was thus 
secured. The provisions were taken for public use, and 
the goods divided among the soldiers. 

Captain Rogers, of The Willing^ soon joined Clark 



50 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

at Vincennes, greatly regretting that he had arrived too 
late to take part in the attack. He and Captain Williams 
were later sent to Virginia in charge of Hamilton, his 
officers, and some men. Hamilton was treated with 
great severity in Virginia prisons, but after a time was 
released and exchanged. 



IX. — The Delaware Indians. 

After his victory Colonel Clark sent no message to 
the Indians, but waited to see what effect the news would 
have upon them. They very soon began to flock into 
Vincennes for the purpose of making peace. Clark told 
them he was glad to take their promises, but that if these 
promises were ever broken the Long Knives would not 
trust the Indians again. After much ceremony, and 
many speeches, belts were exchanged, peace pipes 
smoked, and a number of treaties signed. I^ieutenant 
Richard Brashear was left in charge of Fort Sack vi lie, 
with one hundred men. Captain Helm was made com- 
mandant of the town, and put in charge of Indian 
affairs. 

On the twentieth of March, Clark, and the rest of his 
men, embarked on The Willing for Kaskaskia. On 
their way up the Mississippi they saw several new 
Indian camps. They learned, wdien they reached Kas- 
kaskia, that some Delaware Indians had been in town a 



THE DELAWARE INDIANS. 



51 



few days before behaving very badly, some of them even 
going so far as to flash their guns at white women. 
Some passing soldiers had come to the rescue, and 
driven the Indians away. 

Later on, word came from Captain Helm that a party 
of traders had been killed by Del a wares near Vincennes. 
Clark at once sent out a company to find their camps 
and villages. He distrusted these savages, and felt that 
he ought to destroy them if he could. They had, at one 
time, made a sort of peace treaty with the Americans, 
but he knew that they really wanted war. He was 
glad that he now had the opportunity of showing the 
other tribes what the Long Knives would do with those 
who dared to make war against them. 

He sent orders to the soldiers at Vincennes to attack 
the Delawares at once; to kill the men, but spare the 
women and children. Accordingly their camps were de- 
stroyed, many Indians killed, and many taken prisoners. 
The Delawares then asked for peace, but were told that 
they dare not lay down the hatchet without permission 
from Colonel Clark; but that a message would be sent 
for them to Kaskaskia. Clark sent back word that he 
would not grant peace; that he never trusted those who 
once broke faith; but that if they could get other tribes 
to be their security he would let them alone. 

The Delawares then called a council, at which Clark's 
answer was made public. The Piankeshaws promised 
to be security for the good faith and conduct of the 



52 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

Delawares. Tobacco's Son made a speech, in which he 
blamed them severely. 

"I gave you permission to settle in this country," 
said he, "but not to kill my friends. If you offend 
again, I, myself, will punish you. I swear it by the 
Sacred Bow." 

This bow was then brought out. It was a wonderful 
affair, decorated with feathers, eagles' tails, a pipe of 
peace, and many trinkets. At one end was a spear, six 
inches long, which had been dipped in blood. This 
bow could only be handled by the greatest chiefs. It 
made a profound impression on the frightened Dela- 
wares, who were now only too glad to declare themselves 
at peace with the I^ong Knives. 



X. — Back in Kentucky. 

The first messenger sent to Virginia, with news of 
the victory at Vincennes, was killed on the way; but 
when the Virginians finally learned what Clark had done 
there was great rejoicing. The brave soldiers, and their 
braver commander, were praised on every side. The 
assembly presented Colonel Clark with a fine sword, in 
recognition of his "distinguished services." 

But the troops promised for an expedition against 
Detroit were not sent; Clark therefore decided to go 
back to Kentucky, making his way by the river to the 



BACK IN KENTUCKY. 53 

Falls of the Ohio. He found that many new settlers 
had come to Kentucky, and this caused him to hope that 
he might soon so increase his army as to be able to 
march against the British. He made a careful plan for 
the laying in of large stores of jerked meat for army 
supplies, but his hunters were so harassed by the Indians 
that nothing came of it. 

Corn Island had been abandoned, and a fort built on 
the Kentucky side of the river. Clark set himself at 
work strengthening this fort and preparing it for defense. 
This was really the foundation of the city of lyouisville. 
Clark drew a plan for a magnificent city, laying out 
many parks and public grounds. If these ideas had 
been carried out lyouisville would now be one of the 
most beautiful cities in the country; but as the town 
around the fort grew larger much of the public land 
was sold. Colonel Clark also drew up maps and plans 
for a city to be built opposite Louisville, which he 
hoped would be called Clarksville. 

Clark now became anxious to have a fort built at the 
mouth of the Ohio. This, he felt, would strengthen 
the American claim to the newly conquered Illinois 
country. He hoped also to establish other forts to the 
north, which would keep the Indians farther away from 
Kentucky. 

In 1780 he went, with a small force, to a place on the 
Mississippi called Iron Banks, four or five miles below 
the mouth of the Ohio River. Here he built several 



54 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

blockhouses, and a fort called Fort Jefferson. Soon 
after its completion it was besieged by one thousand 
Choctaw and Cherokee Indians. Within were only 
thirty men, some of whom were sick; water was scarce, 
and, at one time, the only food was unripe pumpkins. 
The men had no thought of surrender, however, and 
finally succeeded in driving off their foes. 

The Indians were entrapped into a certain position, 
where a cannon, loaded with rifle and musket balls, 
could be brought to bear on them. It was fired into 
their ranks, when they were crowded together, with 
deadly effect. They drew off in haste, and made no 
more assaults; and after hovering about the neighbor- 
hood until Clark arrived with reinforcements, they dis- 
appeared. 

Clark so feared an expedition from Detroit that he 
planned to avert it by making the first attack himself. 
With this in view he set out from Fort Jefferson for Har- 
rodsburg, with only two companions. He was undertak- 
ing a most dangerous journey, for the country between 
the two places was full of hostile Indians. Clark and his 
men painted their faces and dressed like savages, hoping 
in this way to elude their foes. They were, in conse- 
quence, fired on by some white men who mistook them 
for Indians; fortunately no one was hurt. I^iving on 
buffalo meat and game, and crossing the swollen streams 
on rafts made of logs and grapevines, the travelers 
reached Harrodsburg in safety. 



BACK IN KENTUCKY. 55 

Clark began at once to raise troops, for he knew that 
the situation was serious. Kentucky was threatened by 
the British, and harassed by Indians. News came that 
an expedition had really been planned by the English 
and their savage allies against Kaskaskia and Cahokia. 
Then word arrived that an army of seven hundred and 
fifty men was already on the way south ; that American 
traders had been taken on the Mississippi; that workers 
in the lead mines had been made prisoners. 

These threatening and real dangers caused great 
alarm in Kentucky. Clark decided to attack his ene- 
mies, not only to punish them, but to calm the fears of 
his frightened countrymen. He gathered together, at 
the mouth of the Licking River, all the able-bodied men 
in the vicinity. 

These troops marched at once, one thousand strong, 
to an Indian village north of the Ohio River, carrying 
a cannon with them on the back of a pack horse. The 
Indians fled on hearing of the approach of the white 
men, who burned the village to the ground as soon as 
they reached it. They then went on to Piqua, an 
Indian town of well-built log houses, gardens of corn 
and beans, and a strong blockhouse. The white men 
opened an attack, and the Indians retreated so skillfully 
as to lose only a few of their number. The village was 
burned and the crops destroyed. One other Indian 
town was burned before the pioneers turned towards 
home. 



^6 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

During this time things were going very badly at 
Fort Jefferson, as there were but few men in the gar- 
rison. One by one these sickened, died, or deserted; and 
finally the fort was abandoned. 



XL — Lochry's Defeat. 

Colonel Clark, in 1781, was still very anxious to 
march against Detroit. He called a council of war at 
the Falls of the Ohio to consider the number of troops 
needed, and how they could be fed. He then went to 
Virginia, hoping to get help there; but during his stay 
the British, under Arnold, invaded the state. He laid 
aside his own hopes and plans long enough to help his 
countrymen repel this invasion. 

Both Governor Thomas Jefferson and General George 
Washington approved of Clark's plans, and promised to 
do what they could to further them. They were able 
to do very little, however, and he experienced great 
difficulty in securing men. Indeed there were, this 
time, very few who were not already in the continental 
army, or desperately needed at home. 

Clark had hoped to leave Fort Pitt on June fifteenth, 
with two thousand men. He was obliged to start down 
the river with only four hundred, but expecting other 
troops to follow. One division of these was commanded 
by Colonel Lochry of Pennsylvania, who started in July 



lochry's defeat. 57 

to join Clark, but met with many delays. Clark, after 
waiting for him at Wheeling five days longer than he 
had planned, was then obliged to move on with his 
restless soldiers. He left boats and provisions for 
Lochry, who came the next day and immediately fol- 
lowed him down the river. Ivochry was again delayed, 
and, instead of meeting Clark at the place decided on, 
arrived there one day too late. Clark moved his troops 
to the mouth of the Kanawha River, but they were so 
uner.sy and dissatisfied that he did not dare remain. He 
left a letter on a pole for lyochry, telling him to come on 
as quickly as possible. 

Misfortunes followed thick and fast. lyochry's party 
did not know the channel of the river; their supplies 
became exhausted, and they at last lost all hope of 
catching up with Clark. Captain Shannon, with seven 
men, was sent down the river in a fast boat, to overtake 
Clark and tell him the plight of his friends. These 
men were captured by Indians, who read the letter telling 
Clark of Lochry 's forlorn condition. 

The British, and their Indian allies, had thought 
Clark's and Lochry's parties were together, but now, 
knowing them to be miles apart, they at once decided to 
attack the weaker force. Three hundred of them 
watched their oppottu^ity at the mouth of the Great 
Miami River, where they won an easy victory. Forty 
Americans were killed, and the rest of the party cap- 
tured. 



58 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

Great was the distress in Pennsylvania when the 
news of this defeat arrived, for Lochry's expedition had 
been made up of some of the best and bravest men in 
the state, and of these there were none to spare. Clark 
was overwhelmed with grief and chagrin, for this dis- 
aster destroyed his hope of being able to march against 
Detroit. 



XII. — Border Troubles. 

After lyochry's defeat Clark went to the Falls of the 
Ohio, where he found trouble and toil awaiting him. 
There were difficulties between citizens and soldiers at 
Vincennes, and trouble of the same sort in the Illinois 
towns. Kaskaskia was in constant peril; food and sup- 
plies were scarce everywhere. In Kentucky many 
people had been obliged to give up their farms and 
move into the forts; whole families had been destroyed 
by the Indians, and the settlements were full of widows 
and orphans. One brave man. Colonel Floyd, had gone 
in pursuit of the Indians with twenty-five men. He had 
met a band of two hundred savages and been defeated. 

Clark went to work with his unfailing courage and 
ability, first calling a council of war. Some were in 
favor of an expedition against the Indians, others of 
building more forts along the Ohio, still others of 
attempting another outpost at the mouth of the river. 
Clark advised a stronger fort at the falls, which was built, 



BORDER TROUBLES. 59 

and called Fort Nelson. Two others were also erected 
near by. Fort Nelson contained about an acre of ground, 
and was surrounded by a ditch eight feet deep and ten 
feet wide. The breastworks were log pens filled with 
earth; and pickets ten feet high were planted on them. 
Inside of the fort was a spring of running water. 

Clark decided to have the river patrolled by armed 
boats. He asked the government for means to build 
them, but did not receive any money, for the simple 
reason that there was none in the treasury of Virginia. 
Although disappointed he was not discouraged, but set 
to work to do the next best thing. He built a gunboat 
himself and armed it with cannon. This boat patrolled 
the river, from the falls to where the city of Cincinnati 
now stands, and did good service. 

In the spring of 1782, another Indian war broke out. 
Esthill's Station was first attacked and captured. A 
little later several hundred Indians attacked Bryant's 
Station. Here they were not successful, but by this 
time the settlers were greatly alarmed. One hundred 
and eighty-two men quickly got together to fight the 
Indians. They met them at a place called Blue Licks, 
and a fierce battle was fought, in which one third of 
the Kentuckians lost their lives. 

Clark was then called on to command the men who 
were assembling from all the western settlements. By 
November he was able to lead an army of over one 
thousand frontiersmen towards the Indian villages on 



6o GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

the Miami River. As was usually the case, the savages 
fled at the approach of the white men, who destroyed a 
number of towns, and all crops and provisions. This 
brought such poverty and famine on the Indians that 
they were, for the time, completely crushed. They 
ceased to harass the Kentucky border, and kept to the 
north of the Ohio River. 



XIII. — After the War. 

When the treaty of peace between the United States 
and Great Britain was signed the American people 
began to realize the great value of George Rogers 
Clark's services to his country. The Northwest Terri- 
tory, which included what are now the states of Ohio, 
Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin, was in 
American, not English hands. Had it not been so, 
England might have kept this territory for herself. 

Virginia, now one of the United States, finding her- 
self exhausted by the seven years' war,, had neither 
money nor supplies for Clark's army in the west. For 
these reasons he was relieved of his command in 1783. 
A letter was sent him containing many expressions of 
Virginia's appreciation of his services. Nevertheless 
he was left without work or money. He found him- 
self obliged to take the long journey to Williamsburg 
in such poverty and distress that he was in need of 



AFTER THE WAR. 6l 

even necessary clothing. He went to ask for a little of 
the money he had so hardly earned. Twenty years 
after his death the government paid his heirs thirty 
thousand dollars on his account. Five or six years 
before he died he was allowed a pension of four hundred 
dollars a year. In the meantime he was a poor man. 

In January, 1785, Clark and two other men, Butler 
and Lee, were sent by the United States government to 
make treaties with the Wyandotte, Chippewa, and Ottawa 
Indians. The council was held at Fort Mcintosh, on 
the Ohio River. The greatest of the chiefs, on seeing 
Clark, took him by the hand and said, " I thank the 
Great Spirit for having this day brought together two 
such great warriors as Buckongehelas and General 
Clark." 

The next January, Clark, Butler, and Parsons were 
sent to make a treaty with the Shawnees. Three hun- 
dred Indians arrived at the meeting place, gay with 
paint and feathers. As the garrison of the fort num- 
bered only seventy men, this was rather alarming. One 
Indian made a bold speech, which so excited the others 
that they whooped at every pause. The chief presented 
black and white wampum, signifying that he was ready 
for either peace or war. 

General Clark pushed these belts off the table as if 
they were of no consequence, at which all the Indians 
started up with a savage cry. Clark rose to his feet, 
glared at them a moment, then stamped his foot, and 



62 



GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 



ordered them to "get out." They left at once, and 
held council together all night; in the morning they 
sued for peace. 

The men who had gone with Clark to the Illinois 
country received the land promised them in the con- 
quered territory. One thousand acres, opposite I^ouis- 
ville, was set aside for a town to be called Clarksville. 







COIvONEI. CIvARK S HOME AT CI.ARKSVILI,E. 

To this settlement General Clark now gave his time and 
attention, laying plans for a fine city, which, however, 
were never realized. Twenty or thirty families settled 
in the new town, and Clark himself lived there, in a 
little log house on the river bank. 

As he grew older he became much broken in health, 
and paralysis finally disabled him. In his helplessness 
he fell one day, so near the fire that one leg was terribly 
burned. 



AFTER THE WAR. 



63 



■ It became necessary to cut off the injured limb, and 
the old soldier bravely ordered the surgeon to "go 
ahead." Chloroform was not used in those days, and 
the only help for a man iu such a case was his own 
courage. General Clark asked that the drums and fifes 
might be played for him while the operation was in 
progress, and to the music he kept time with his fingers 
during the long two hours of agony. 

The sword presented to Clark in 1779 had been 
bought for the purpose. In 181 2 the Virginia legisla- 




THE SWORD PllKSRXTED TO COLQNEI. CI.ARK BY THE STATE 
OF VIRGINIA. 



ture ordered one made to take its place. At the time of 
its presentation General Clark was living on the Ken- 
tucky side of the river with his sister. To General 
Mercer, who had been sent to him with the sword, it is 
said he made the following reply: 

" You have made a very handsome address, and the 
sword is very handsome, too. When Virginia needed a 
sword I gave her one^ I am too old and infirm, as you 
see, ever to use a sword again, but I am glad that my 



64 GEORGE ROGERS CLARK. 

old mother state has not forgotten me, and I thank her for 
the honor, and yon for your kindness and friendly words." 

General Clark died February thirteenth, 1818, old, 
paralyzed, crippled, poor, and with clouded mind. He 
was buried in private ground at I^ocust Grove, just out 
of lyouisville. Fifty years later his remains were re- 
moved to the lyOuisville cemetery, at Cave Hill, where 
they now rest, marked by a simple headstone. 

In the city of Indianapolis, in February, 1895, ^ 
monument was erected in his honor. 




y 



MONUMENT TO GKNERAI. GEORGK ROGERS CLARK AT INDIAN- 
APOLIS, INDIANA. 



LbJa;4 



